Mid-week brought with it a couple of new adventures. I picked up a book that’s been patiently awaiting a re-read for more than 20 years, and I started a new jumper.
The moment I decided to combine the pink wool with leftovers from previous cream jumpers, I knew that I would be referring to this project as Coconut Ice. High contrast has its place, but I do enjoy a bit of subdued marling, using tones like these which meld softly together.
I’m following another pattern from the One Thousand Sweaters book by Amanda Griffiths, this time using the “Flared Sweater” body design to provide a slightly A-line shape with extra width at the hem. Once I’m up to the armhole shaping, I will switch to one of the other design options to provide me with a nicely fitted shoulder and my favourite set-in sleeves. At the moment, I’m favouring a cowl neck which would be nice and cosy, although I’m mulling over ideas to get a bit fancy with that element.
As it’s written, the pattern has ribbed hems, but this wasn’t really the look I was going for, so I started off with a rolled hem. After I had about two inches of the body finished, I realised the rolled hem was going to be awful, so I took it back to the cast-on edge and worked a band of garter stitch instead. I’m really happy with this decision. I should point out that this hit and miss approach is intentional, I’m ready for a project where I fly by the seat of my pants and am not daunted by trying out ideas and abandoning the ones that don’t work.
And that novel! It was first published in 1987 and my paperback is from 1989. I feel pretty sure I bought and read it whilst it was fairly new and I know that I always intended to come back and read it again. It was a gripping read and I can recall it having a fantastic ending which really shook me. It’s the memory of my reaction to that ending which has kept this on my shelf through two house moves and a lot of changes in taste. The funny thing is, now I’ve started my long-delayed re-read, I can’t remember a single thing about the story. It’s like reading it for the first time again. Hurrah!
This is a first contact novel and you know you’re in for a treat when, by the end of page 19, Jupiter’s moon Europa has disappeared and geologists have stumbled across an alien in Death Valley whose first words are “I am sorry, but there is bad news.”
At some point after reading “The Forge of God” I was excited by the release of a sequel called “Anvil of Stars”. Expecting great things, I read it and I remember being sorely disappointed. I did not keep that one and I haven’t read much, if anything, by Mr Bear since. Maybe now will be the time to explore some of his other work.
The sun is shining, I’m glowing from my early-morning swim, and I’m all set for a weekend filled with wool and words.
Pam Alison Knits 
I am drawn to subtle shades like yours. Some of my favorite knits are cozy and soft in feel and color. That dusty rose is one of my favorites.
I rather like a nice dusty pastel in the depths of winter. It can brighten without feeling too garish.
And oddly, the color evokes a sense of warmth.
Seemann like a cosy knit. I read Blood Music from Greg Bear year ago, quite interesting.
Knitting the two 4-ply weight yarns together feels a tiny bit thicker than a DK weight yarn, but not as thick as a Worstead weight yarn. It’s cosy without being too bulky. I haven’t been able to decide quite what I want to read for a while now and this re-read just leapt up and threw itself at me!